Stumptown Comics Fest 2012 - Portland Parties, Panels & Signings!‏

DARK HORSE: STUMPTOWN COMICS FEST 2012 SCHEDULE

APRIL 27, MILWAUKIE, OR— This weekend, Portland's own Stumptown Comics Fest takes over the Oregon Convention Center for its largest show ever! Dark Horse is giving you a look at all the awesome happening through Sunday!

FRIDAY, APRIL 27

Drink and Draw with Peter Bagge at Bridge City Comics

Bridge City Comics, 3725 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

In celebration of the release of Peter Bagge's newest comics series, Reset, Dark Horse Comics and Bridge City Comics present the official 2012 Stumptown Comics Festival kickoff event -- a Friday night Drink and Draw for visiting and local artists, publishers, and all festival-goers!

Bagge will be in attendance as the guest of honor with copies of Reset #1 to sign, and party guests will be provided with complementary art supplies to draw to their hearts' content. Snacks and drinks (21+ with valid I.D.) will be served, complements of Bridge City, Dark Horse, and Ninkasi Brewing.

Best known for his comic-book series Hate, which helped to define the grunge generation, and his recent contributions to Reason magazine, Peter Bagge is always willing to confront hard-hitting societal issues with intelligence, wit, and funny bone intact. Join us for a conversation with the multiple Harvey and Eagle Award-winning cartoonist, whose newest series, Reset, has just been launched in the Dark Horse Originals line. Moderated by Ryan Alexander-Tanner.

2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Of Rabbits and Ronin: Spotlight on Stan Sakai, B114

World-renowned cartoonist Stan Sakai has been writing, drawing, and even hand-lettering his beloved rabbit samurai series Usagi Yojimbo for twenty-seven years and counting. Join Sakai for a discussion of Usagi's history and future, as well as demonstrations and all-ages audience participation! Moderated by Usagi series editor, Diana Schutz.

3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Euro Comics In Translation, B114

Join Diana Schutz, Executive Editor of Dark Horse's Manara Library and Blacksad, for an informative look at what it takes to bring Europe's most celebrated titles to new audiences in America. This panel will delve into the process on properly editing, translating and publishing Euro Comics for a very different market. All this will culminate in a sneak peek of and discussion on the upcoming highly anticipated Blacksad: A Silent Hell by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido. Moderated by Eisner and Harvey award-winning editor and writer Joe Keatinge.

Join Dark Horse Comics editor Philip Simon and PR director Jeremy Atkins to hear about the latest comics and graphic novels coming out in the Dark Horse Originals line, an imprint that Mike Richardson describes as a place for "unique creators with unique visions expressed in quality graphic novels." Dark Horse Originals has brought you such favorites as Blacksad, Citizen Rex, De:Tales, 3 Story, and more! Don't miss special guests Peter Bagge, Jeff Parker, and Erika Moen, who will talk about their new Dark Horse Originals projects!

Join Quenched Consciousness curator Ian MacEwan, Dark Horse Moebius line editor Scott Allie and famed Madman cartoonist Michael Allred in a tribute to the master creator moderated by Glory & Hell Yeah writer Joe Keatinge. This look back at Giraud's illustrious career will include art and insight into his many works including the Incal, Blueberry, Arzak, The Aedena Cycle, The Airtight Garage, Silver Surfer: Parable and movies such as Alien, Tron, Fifth Element and Jodorwsky's Dune. The discussion will begin with an introductory career overview by MacEwan followed by interviews with Allred and Allie about their one-on-one interactions with the master himself, the inspiration Giraud gave them and his global affect on the medium and industry alike. The panel includes a screening of the rarely seen documentary, Moebius Redux, directed by Hasko Baumann. 2-HOUR SESSION

2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Beyond the Cape: Genre Fiction in Comics, B114

Join moderator Christian Lipski and creators Vera Brosgol, Brian Churilla, Brian Hurtt, Lukas Ketner, Batton Lash, Steve Lieber, Dylan Meconis, Ron Randall, and Brandon Seifert in a conversation about the other kinds of comics. Horror, sci-fi, western, romance -- creators talk about the world outside the super-human. Is the 'mainstream' expanding to include other genres, or are the smaller publishers growing their audience? What are the publishing options for non-super titles? Is it a worthwhile direction for authors and artists?

4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Making History, B114

What do a Victorian robot, theology scholar, and rabbit ronin have in common? They're the stars of three very different stories in historical settings: Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel; Family Man; and Usagi Yojimbo. Join their creators--Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett, Dylan Meconis, and Stan Sakai--for a lively discussion of history and storytelling.